ISLAMABAD: The Senate defence committee was informed by the ministry of defence that Pakistan's defence budget is the lowest in the region despite its location in the red zone in terms of growing threats to its security.

According to the United Nations, Pakistan had a gross domestic product of US $215 billion in the year 2012. In comparison, GDP for Turkey was recorded at $788 billion, India at $1,875bn, and China at $8,358bn.

He disclosed that all defence and defence production organisations get their funds from defence budget allocated by the federal government and approved by the Parliament.

“Pakistan Army gets 48 per cent of the whole defence budget while 20pc goes to Pakistan Air force and Navy gets only 10pc,” the senior Air force officer said.

When asked about budget of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the additional secretary said the country’s premier intelligence agency also gets its money from the budget allocated for defence.

However, he avoided replying to questions about specific budgetary allocations for the ISI and its audit, saying, “Since the Indian RAW and Isreali Mossad’s budget is not disclosed,” so he would not say anything about the spy agency’s budget.

“There is absolute transparency in the making of the defence budget and strong audit and accountancy mechanism is well placed to check its proper spending,” the defence official said.

AVM Quddus admitted that military pensions, which have risen to over Rs100 billion, were not given from the defence budget but from civilian allocations.

He said whatever is left at the end of the financial year is returned to the federal government by the ministry of defence adding that defence establishment also returns annually Rs34 billion under various taxes out of the whole Rs570 billion defence budget.

The additional defence secretary showed his annoyance over certain questions by the media and members of the committee including Senator Farhatullah Babur and Senator Sughra Imam of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Speaking on the occasion, chairman of the committee, Senator Mushahid Hussain syed said this was first time in Parliamentary history that the ministry of defence was taking into confidence the defence committee and the media over the defence budget.

“There has been no genuine defence minister in Pakistan’s political history and with part-time minister, defence system will not work,” Mushahid remarked. He disclosed that when Parliamentary committee on national security formulated its terms of reference on reopening of Nato supplies, GHQ or ISI were not consulted and it was a sole parliamentary decision.

Senator Babar questioned the security establishment’s vast network of industrial, commercial and business enterprises throughout the country and said it had been kept out of public and parliamentary discourse and called upon the members of Parliament to equip themselves with knowledge and expertise to be able to exercise rigorous oversight of the Milbus.

“There is need to look into state subsidies and other support provided to these entities including Fauji Foundation, Army Welfare Trust, Shaheen Foundation, Bahria Foundation, Frontier Works Organisation, National Logistioc Cell and scores of others and examine its adverse impact on the growth of free market economy,” the PPP leader commented.

^^ Aah the fruits of 5 years of PPP government. That inbred, $wine-b@$t@rd asif ali ghaddari, has all but destroyed the economy of Pakistan.

........ when the first drop of a Munafiq's blood drops in the Kaa'bah ........

........ the Black Flags Army shall rise from Khurasan and commence its earth rumbling march toward Damishque. Any force that tries to come in its path, shall be destroyed with ruthless destruction. Awaiting, upon reaching Damishque, the safron and beads of pearls and the Black Turban that shall lead the Salah of Fajr .........

........ the stones and trees of Lud shall cry out to the Black Flags and tell them of the Munafiqs, Yahuds and Kuffar that are hiding behind them, to come and kill them. That day shall be the day of reckoning, the day of justice, the day when no power shall hold and unfair advantage. The battle shall be fought and won by way of faith ........

ISLAMABAD: The defence ministry has called for an increase in allocation for armed forces in the next budget on the ground that the current share is not enough.

“More funds are required for acquisition and mobilisation of new weapon systems,” the additional secretary of the ministry, Air Vice Marshal Arshad Qudoos, told a media briefing on defence budget arranged by the Senate Committee on Defence on Monday.

He said the amount provided in last year’s budget covered only the expenses incurred on salaries of troops and operational and maintenance costs.

Based on allocation for the outgoing fiscal year, the additional secretary said about 43 per cent of the defence budget had been spent on employees-related expenses, 26 per cent on operations and 10 per cent on civil works.

The remaining 21 per cent went to servicing and maintenance of equipment.

The budget for next fiscal year will be announced in the first week of next month. It is expected that the government will increase the allocation to meet the growing defence requirements.

Air Vice Marshal Qudoos compared Pakistan’s defence spending with other countries in the region, particularly India, and said that Pakistan was spending much less than others.

The country’s defence budget last year was $6.27 billion whereas India was spending about $37bn on its armed forces, he said.

He said Pakistan spent $8,427 on a soldier every year whereas India spent $24,075.

The additional secretary said changes in foreign exchange rate and rising inflation and petroleum prices over the year had decreased the actual value of the allocation.

The chairman of the Senate committee, Senator Mushahid Hussain, called for “openness” in defence spending. “People deserve to know how the defence budget is prepared and utilised.”

“There are no holy cows,” said Mr Mushahid, whose committee had hosted the first ever briefing on defence budget for the media.

Senator Farhatullah Babar said the defence budget was prepared on the basis of GHQ’s threat and national security perception to the exclusion of civil society.

He alleged that the budget lacked both transparency and accountability.

^^ Aah the fruits of 5 years of PPP government. That inbred, $wine-b@$t@rd asif ali ghaddari, has all but destroyed the economy of Pakistan.

Also the fruits of ex-Army generals dictators Busharraf who licked CIA's boots and other top level officers, who are plundering wealth of the nation. Army of commercialists are too busy buying 8 canal plots and plazas and playing golf and enjoying wine in clubhouses while soldiers are dying on borders and Siachen, citizens at the mercy of US drone strikes and airbases allowed to USA to carry out attacks on Pakistani soil. Fruits of commercial army, their corruption and bribery and kickbacks from defence deals and USAid put even Ghaddari and Ganjoo to shame. Hence why 'Gen Raheel vows to preserve dignity of Army'.

Ganjoo has managed to do what Ghaddari's 5 years and Army couldnt do: stopped drone attacks in recent months. Do you honestly think military top echelon are farishta?

Bear in mind that pak armed forces are engaged in a continuous LIC for the last decade. Our helo fleet has more than tripled in this time

Capital suggestion

Myth 1: The allocation for defence is the single largest component in our budget. Not true. The single largest allocation in Budget 2013-14 went to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). The second largest allocation in Budget 2013-14 went to servicing the national debt. The third largest government expenditure, including off the budget allocations, are the losses at public-sector enterprises (PSEs). Yes, the fourth largest government expenditure goes into defence.

Myth 2: The defence budget eats up a large percentage of the total outlay. Not true. In Budget 2013-14, a total of 15.74 percent of the total outlay was allocated for defence. PSDP and debt servicing were 30 percent each. What that means is that more than 84 percent of all government expenditures are non-defence related.

Myth 3: The defence budget has been increasing at an increasing rate. Not true. In 2001-02, we spent 4.6 percent of our GDP on defence. In 2013-14, twelve years later, our defence spending has gone down to 2.7 percent of GDP.

Myth 4: We end up spending a very high percentage of our GDP on defence. Not true. There are at least four dozen countries that spend a higher percentage of their GDP on defence.

Myth 5: The Pakistan Army consumes the bulk of the defence budget. Not true. In the 1970s, the Pakistan Armys share in the defence budget had shot up to 80 percent. In 2012-13, the Pakistan Armys share in the defence budget stood at 48 percent.

Now some facts:

Fact 1: The Pakistan Armys budget as a percentage of our national budget now hovers around eight percent.

Fact 3: Pakistans armed forces are the sixth largest but our expenses per soldier are the lowest. America spends nearly $400,000 per soldier, India $25,000 and Pakistan $10,000.

Fact 4: Of all the armies in the world, Pak Army has received the highest number of UN medals. Of all the armies in the world, Pak Army is the largest contributor of troops to the UN peacekeeping missions.

Mark Twain once remarked, Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.

The writer is a columnist based in Islamabad. Email: farrukh15@hotmail.com Twitter: @saleemfarrukh

Pakistan's political leaders (civilian and military alike) are on a mission to gradually weaken and neuter the Pakistani military. They've done their job with the economy, they've done enough to not resolve Waziristan, and we've got the IMF/WB mountain to deal with moving forward.

Also the fruits of ex-Army generals dictators Busharraf who licked CIA's boots and other top level officers, who are plundering wealth of the nation. Army of commercialists are too busy buying 8 canal plots and plazas and playing golf and enjoying wine in clubhouses while soldiers are dying on borders and Siachen, citizens at the mercy of US drone strikes and airbases allowed to USA to carry out attacks on Pakistani soil. Fruits of commercial army, their corruption and bribery and kickbacks from defence deals and USAid put even Ghaddari and Ganjoo to shame. Hence why 'Gen Raheel vows to preserve dignity of Army'.

Ganjoo has managed to do what Ghaddari's 5 years and Army couldnt do: stopped drone attacks in recent months. Do you honestly think military top echelon are farishta?

=====================================================

My friend, if I were to ever wrest control over the helm of power in Pakistan. My very first act will be to paralyze and then dismantle all the whisky-generals in PA, shareefs, ppp/zardari/bhuttos, chaudhrys of Punjab, wadayras/saeens of interior Sindh, the sardars/wadayras of Baluchistan and the thugs/gangsters/mqm of Karachi. Oh and not forgetting the jahil mullahs in all 5 provinces of Pakistan, including Pukhtunkhwa, you know, the ones who've run their mouths using Islam as an excuse.

You see, for me, they are the disease which plagues Pakistan. Without the whisky-generals, Pakistan Military would actually be a force for the good of Pakistan and Islam. Without the corrupt, traitor politicians the Government would actually be for the people of Pakistan and Islam. Without the jahil, gawaar mullahs, the Shariah would actually materialize as the model of Madinah. Without the wadaras/saeens/sardars/chaudhrys, the social structure of our country would take shape in the form that existed in Madinah 1400 years ago. So all of these groups of people have to be incapacitated, rendered obsolete and decomposed.

So rest assured, I have no allegiances with anyone but my Creator and Sovereign of all - Allah Subhanaho Wata'aalah, my beloved Prophet - Muhammad Alaihi Salaat-u-Wassalam AND BECAUSE OF MY LORD & MY PROPHET, it is my place of birth - my homeland : the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and my people, my brothers and sisters - Pakistanis.

........ when the first drop of a Munafiq's blood drops in the Kaa'bah ........

........ the Black Flags Army shall rise from Khurasan and commence its earth rumbling march toward Damishque. Any force that tries to come in its path, shall be destroyed with ruthless destruction. Awaiting, upon reaching Damishque, the safron and beads of pearls and the Black Turban that shall lead the Salah of Fajr .........

........ the stones and trees of Lud shall cry out to the Black Flags and tell them of the Munafiqs, Yahuds and Kuffar that are hiding behind them, to come and kill them. That day shall be the day of reckoning, the day of justice, the day when no power shall hold and unfair advantage. The battle shall be fought and won by way of faith ........

Not really, the property-dealer 8 canal plot-buying, plaza-constructing commercialist army was the one who signed secret drone attack deals with the USA, Bushrraf, Kiyani (Wikileaks confirmed). And their plan was to blame the govt for it. The property dealers in uniform were either sleeping or in cohort with the USA when they violated airspace and flew all the way into Abottabad and back.

Ganjoo is safe and sound for the next 5 years, life has become very hard for dictators as one is awaiting his outcome and the judiciary has become very strong and in harmony with federal government.

Actually other than stopping drone attacks TEMPORARILY, Ganjoo has also managed to bring peace in Punjab atleast with the Taliban and other miscreants. Punjab, where you live is more peaceful than NWFP, bomb explodiest province, where bombs are exploding daily and Karachi where everyone is eating bullets for breakfast. So I'd still say these are two little achievement for Ganjoo's government. Give credit where it is due.

Gen raheel OTOH has alot of work to do as he 'vows to preserve dignity of Army'

^^ as of now, PAF is pounding your taliban brethren in tribal areas , 60 are reported to have been dispatched to hell. ill keep you posted

1) ganjoo is a weak , iron foundry low IQ industrialist turned politician ( thanks to army) r who was all too eager to run and talk to taliban . the talibs used this time to re group and launch counter attacks all over Pakistan , incl punjab . the peace talks are a failure . theres no denying that, and the army is taking the matters in its own hands now

2) yes, drone attacks were part of a deal, and their cessation too is part of a larger deal. and ganjoo has nothing to do with it. this is a fact which you are free to deny as you please.

Yeah...just twist the statistics here and there and make them appear all rosy. Loan payments takes the biggest chunk of Pak's budget and the miliary takes the next bite so much so that development, education and health expenditure even together can't come up to military's share. Got nothing to show for development, education and health and lo and behold got nothing to show for the military either, except disasters.

Like I said twist all you want. Learning from the past is something the powers that run Pakistan will never get around to.

At the very most, India would want to take some areas all along the border if and only if she can achieve that with minimum loss. With nuclear equation, even that goes out of the window. Pakistan as a whole faces no danger from India which your military realized in the 1960s itself, hence all the daring manuevers from thereon. Having developed nuclear weapons and their delivery system, Pakistan should only be curtailing their defence budget and working on civilian aspects. The military at the helm has tasted money and power and now can't let it go.

And please don't compare things between third world and first world. Their world is so apart that their toilets have more money spent on them then our kitchens.

what is there to twist ? the facts are in your face . and i fail to fathom the summary of your argument ?what exactly do you want to prove here ? see the SIPRI database, Pakistan's defence budget has actually shrunk over the last two decades even with the fact that we are facing an insurgency.

regarding indian threat, nuclear weapons are the ultimate deterrence yet a missile in its silo cannot intercept an su 30 crossing our border. it is childish to assume that militaries would/should reduce conventional arms just because they have nukes . nuclear weapons didnt stop the taliban from taking over tribal areas and to clear them out , infantry and armor had to go in. nowhere in the world do nuclear arms calibrate the equation of power projection that is actually done with conventional arms.

the comparison with whatsapp was done to give an idea of our defence spending .

^^ as of now, PAF is pounding your taliban brethren in tribal areas , 60 are reported to have been dispatched to hell. ill keep you posted

1) ganjoo is a weak , iron foundry low IQ industrialist turned politician ( thanks to army) r who was all too eager to run and talk to taliban . the talibs used this time to re group and launch counter attacks all over Pakistan , incl punjab . the peace talks are a failure . theres no denying that, and the army is taking the matters in its own hands now

) yes, drone attacks were part of a deal, and their cessation too is part of a larger deal. and ganjoo has nothing to do with it. this is a fact which you are free to deny as you please.

I wholeheartedly wish that PAF vaporises the TTP and associated scumabags who are nothing but a stain on the face of humanity. Not just 60 but all of them be sent to hell! Just ike we did clean-up in Swat. But dont come back here posting '...i feel it for the loss of ...blah blah..in this bomb blast RIP' whenever the TTP scumbags retaliate next. My friend, in any given war, both channels must be open, firepower and dialogue for this is a war to win hearts and minds of the local people. Therefore dialogue (muzakaraat) is also necessary as the world superpower do it too.

(1) That weak, low IQ industrialist turned politican is still smarter than you and average awaam. He fooled the awaam and sugar-coated them until they selected him to be their leader. Even after 11 years in exile, he still popular to be elected for the 3rd time, a status not enjoyed by any other politican or army generals, sorry property dealers in uniform (who btw are always kicked out in the most shameful ways Zia ul haq, Busharraf etc). Ghaddari has the achievement of supervising the first democratically elected govt to complete it full 5 years term. All this while Imran Khan (who I still support btw) his 'tsunami' was nothing more than a 'ripple' that only secured provincial govt in the least productive and highest in corruption province of Pakistan. So I'd say good on Ghaddari and Ganjoo who are way way wayyy more cunning for majority of the awaam! Shabaash to them, showed awaam who is the boss!

In 2010 the controversial whistleblowing site Wikileaks released numerous documents relating to Pakistan which showed the Pakistani military and other arms of the government had "quietly acquiesced" with drone strikes even though they had publicly condemned them.

Why dont you read the full article. And it will explain how the Ghadari's govt and property dealers in uniform were in cohorts with the CIA to carry out drone attacks.But you are going to dismiss this by playing the 'BBC and CNN never tell the truth about Pakistan' card.

if you ask me whom do I support, No it is certainly not Ganjoo, not Ghadari, not corrupt Army generals but maybe Imran Khan a little bit. Look I am with whoever who actions to bring economic development and prosperity in Pakistan, even if it is a dictator with strict rule

I wholeheartedly wish that PAF vaporises the TTP and associated scumabags who are nothing but a stain on the face of humanity. Not just 60 but all of them be sent to hell! Just ike we did clean-up in Swat. But dont come back here posting '...i feel it for the loss of ...blah blah..in this bomb blast RIP' whenever the TTP scumbags retaliate next. My friend, in any given war, both channels must be open, firepower and dialogue for this is a war to win hearts and minds of the local people. Therefore dialogue (muzakaraat) is also necessary as the world superpower do it too.

, so now the ttp sympathizer inside you has finally woken up. good, your cowardly threat of bomb blasts has been noted, thats the best you can do anyway when your kind and brethren dont have the minerals to fight man to man. ive seen your dead, lifeless bodies , riddled with G 3 lead, ive seen how our military dispatches you to hell,

dont worry, the only talks you will get now are the calls to surrender or a bullet to the head

^ Oh phulleeeez. I never sympatisized with TTP scumbags. It is YOU who is just jumping to conclusions, blow your own trumpet. Just because I had an opinion 'different' to you on Army and Ganjoo, you simply start labelling me as 'TTP sympathisizer'. No sensible person has any sympathy for them. If you wanna debate then debate like a man, keep it professional, make points with facts and figures. Dont do these personal attacks like cheap shots below the waist !!!

you, in your infinite wisdom and love of ganjoo have derailed this topic. not me.

whiskey generals ? property dealers ? nawaz is smarter than the nation ? what has that got to do with defense budget ?

my facts and figures are in your face, for all to see, you on the other hand have no intellectual capacity to go beyond any topic except the drinking habits of some general ! all you posts are yapping the same merry go round , troll!

The only reason Ganjoo is back in power is because he played the Ethnic "Jaag Punjab Jaag" card which got the illiterates and ethnocentrics (majority of Punjab) on his side. As for the progressive Punjabi vote, lets not forget, everyone, even the election commission accepts that there was widespread rigging in Punjab.

Nawaz Sharif isn't the PM of Pakistan. He's the PM of Punjab. The way he is going, the army will have to remove him soon.

nawaz came to power through a deal , that deal was the charter of democracy he made with BB in 2007 . the unwritten but well understood crux of that deal was the PPP would rule 5 yrs and then PML(n) for 5 yrs . no wonder PML(n) did nothing to oppose PPP in its five years , while at the same time invested in buying election commission officers for the 2013 elections .

What you have said is getting quite boring and old now, the same old tune played by non-Punjabis against Punjab that 'Punjab is controlling all of Pakistan and its resources'.

Even if that is 1% true then it is fair and justified. Why, because Punjab is the most productive province in Pakistan, most populous and resourceful, literate and full of job opportunity and fertile land for agriclture. All while other provinces and groups are criticising , when actually they should be working on improving their own infrastructure. Instead of blaming others, try to fix their own mistakes. Therefore having control of Punjab, like Ganjoo is infact like having control of Pakistan and is justified.

OTOH Sindh is full of political turmoil and poor law & security situation. NWFP is 'most corrupt' accoring to a 2010 survey and nothing but barren land. Infact most from NWFP travel to Punjab for job opportunities. Best example: NWFP and Sindh were both against Kalabagh dam. NWFP because they thought 'Nowshera' will drown and SIndh because of their typical lazy attitude and easy way out by saying Punjab will hog all the water and cause erosion in Sindh downstream. Such backward thinking and lack of future vision is why we are facing energy crisis, power supply to NWFP should be turned off 24/7, to teach them a lesson as they were the most opposed to it. They are unproductive, ever-complaining bunch anyway.

Secondly, Property Dealers in Uniform (Army higher echelon) is not going to remove Ganjoo. They are simply too busy and engaged in Wester border and trying to improve their tarnished image 'Gen Raheel vows to preserve army's diginity'. They cannot afford another misadventure and infact it is Army Ex-genral Busharraf who just got removed and is awating his outcome. Not Ganjoo, Ganjoo is safe & sound for another 5 years.

ganjoo , unfortunately, is the PM of the whole of Pakistan, not just punjab, he's responsible for NWFP,balochistan and KPK alike. he should get out of the punjab only mindset and make decisions as a leader, but ofc, being ball-less , he cant

it is getting clear by the day that PML(n) massively rigged the election commission with their haraamkhors , it was a result of 5 yrs investement and a deal with ppp as part of that cursed COD.

ganjoo is already shaking at the thought of a grand alliance of TuQ, IK and PML(q) . zardari managed 5 yrs because he was smart, ganjoo is the most dumb fool you could ever come across

What you have said is getting quite boring and old now, the same old tune played by non-Punjabis against Punjab that 'Punjab is controlling all of Pakistan and its resources'.

Even if that is 1% true then it is fair and justified. Why, because Punjab is the most productive province in Pakistan, most populous and resourceful, literate and full of job opportunity and fertile land for agriclture. All while other provinces and groups are criticising , when actually they should be working on improving their own infrastructure. Instead of blaming others, try to fix their own mistakes. Therefore having control of Punjab, like Ganjoo is infact like having control of Pakistan and is justified.

OTOH Sindh is full of political turmoil and poor law & security situation. NWFP is 'most corrupt' accoring to a 2010 survey and nothing but barren land. Infact most from NWFP travel to Punjab for job opportunities. Best example: NWFP and Sindh were both against Kalabagh dam. NWFP because they thought 'Nowshera' will drown and SIndh because of their typical lazy attitude and easy way out by saying Punjab will hog all the water and cause erosion in Sindh downstream. Such backward thinking and lack of future vision is why we are facing energy crisis, power supply to NWFP should be turned off 24/7, to teach them a lesson as they were the most opposed to it. They are unproductive, ever-complaining bunch anyway.

Secondly, Property Dealers in Uniform (Army higher echelon) is not going to remove Ganjoo. They are simply too busy and engaged in Wester border and trying to improve their tarnished image 'Gen Raheel vows to preserve army's diginity'. They cannot afford another misadventure and infact it is Army Ex-genral Busharraf who just got removed and is awating his outcome. Not Ganjoo, Ganjoo is safe & sound for another 5 years.

Rubbish. Sorry to burst your bubble, but someone needs to get you out of your dreamland. It is 100% justified the feeling of alienation and neglect by the other provinces.

Punjab is mostly productive for its agriculture....which is NOT TAXED in Pakistan. The Feudals that dominate our governments have made sure there isn't an Agricultural Tax. Thus its contribution to the government coffers over the past 65+ years has been disproportionately low. It currently enjoys its status due to the simple fact that it has a LARGE population thus ends up receiving the lionshare of the budget. And unlike Sindh it doesn't have a deep ethnic divide between its rural and urban areas.

In no other SANE country of the world can someone win ONE province and end up ruling the ENTIRE country. On top of that, the ENTIRE PROVINCE OF Punjab doesn't even contribute the majority to the national exchequer. That in itself is DEEPLY FLAWED, UNSUSTAINABLE, and UNFAIR system. The Bengalis saw this and promptly told the Punjab dominated West to sod off. The Balochis are trying to as well. There is NO justification for Ganjoo to HIJACK the entire budget of Pakistan and ONLY focus on Punjab.

It has been KARACHI (yes thats right, ONE CITY), for the past 65+ years that has provided MORE than 60% of revenues for the government. It has been Karachi that was the most literate and Karachiites who helped Pakistan prosper ESPECIALLY back in the days when things were based on MERIT. Unfortunately the Rural Sindhi's (SINDHI VADERAS and their slaves) who dominate the population have made sure that Karachi will never receive its DUE SHARE and AUTHORITY. Karachi was only given its rightful attention under Musharraf and we all remember and miss the development of Karachi then.

You can live in your dream world GALLANT, but the STATUS QUO cannot be maintained. The military can handle the western border (like they were doing under Musharraf) and overthrow GANJOO if he pushes them too much. And Ganjoo knows this. Why do you think Khwaja (sira) Asif shat his pants and apologized to them during the recent arguments? Either that or some form of political alliance will gain popularity against the unjust policies.

One thing is for sure. The current system will change. It is only a matter of time.

^^ Couldn't have said it any better. Karachi has been and still is the economic engine of Pakistan. Punjab doesn't come close to Karachi as far as revenue generation is concerned.

The government of Punjab is too busy settling old scores with the Pak army and her institutes. Nothing good has ever come from the government of Punjab. In fact, other provinces have a fair point when they complain that Punjab doesn't fairly release their share of the budget. This has been going on ever since Noora league took control. Meanwhile, Noora league plays this divisive politics of we are better than the rest. They wonder why there is so much resentment against their power politics.

^^ Couldn't have said it any better. Karachi has been and still is the economic engine of Pakistan. Punjab doesn't come close to Karachi as far as revenue generation is concerned.

The government of Punjab is too busy settling old scores with the Pak army and her institutes. Nothing good has ever come from the government of Punjab. In fact, other provinces have a fair point when they complain that Punjab doesn't fairly release their share of the budget. This has been going on ever since Noora league took control. Meanwhile, Noora league plays this divisive politics of we are better than the rest. They wonder why there is so much resentment against their power politics.

Shameful, senseless and disgraceful ..... is all I can say when reading all the posts on this topic.

You all are fools to follow Nawaz, or defend Musharraf! Mindless buffoons to defend Punjab, belittle Pukhtunkhwa or oppose Sindh and ignore Baluchistan.

This is why our ancestors waged the struggle for an independent country, a country for Muslims! Is this why rivers of blood drenched the soil to establish the Islamic Republic of Pakistan? To see one Pakistani fighting another? To see Punjabis for Punjab, Pukhtuns for Pukhtunkhwa, Sindhis for Sindh?

Have you all lost your sense of being a Muslim? Or are you the illiterates defending and proclaiming the illiterates?

Shame on all of you ...... pathetic, disgraceful and ignorant.

Pakistan is not your inheritance. This land is not any one person's, ethnicity's, culture's personal property.

Do not forget the truth that Pakistan was given to us by Allah Subhanaho Wata'aalah alone. We Pakistanis were meant to establish Allah as sovereign of Pakistan. We Pakistanis were meant to follow the Sunnah of Nabi Muhammad Alaihi Salaat-u-Wassalam. We Pakistanis were meant to honor the sacrifices given by our ancestors, who bled rivers of blood struggling for the creation of Pakistan.

Instead, you all bicker, fight and argue over who is better and who is worse. Calling each other names, taunting each other of inadequacies and failures. Like a bunch of rabid dogs, fighting over Punjab being better than the rest of the provinces of Pakistan.

Tell me ...... what will you do, when the enemies of Pakistan destroy our country and turn it into another Yugoslavia? Would still fight over Punjab, Pukhtunkhwa, Baluchistan, Gilget-Baltistan and Sindh?

There would be nothing left to fight over, my brothers. But I bet you all will still bicker and squabble over issues that only expose your lack of vision, insight and discipline.

Pakistan exists, only because Allah Subhanaho Wata'aalah wills it so. If it were left to us, we would have already destroyed Pakistan, not 2 years after independence. And that is the truth about our inept, illiterate, ignorant and self-centered mentality.

And this mentality exists in us Pakistanis, only because we have abandoned the very principle of our existence and destiny. And that is ISLAM!

So keep arguing like a bunch of fools ...... just remember, whoever abandons the Sunnah of Nabi Muhammad Alaihi Salaat-u-Wassalam. Is abandoned by Allah Subhanaho Wata'aalah.

Mujahid Nasrullah Khan Achakzai

........ when the first drop of a Munafiq's blood drops in the Kaa'bah ........

........ the Black Flags Army shall rise from Khurasan and commence its earth rumbling march toward Damishque. Any force that tries to come in its path, shall be destroyed with ruthless destruction. Awaiting, upon reaching Damishque, the safron and beads of pearls and the Black Turban that shall lead the Salah of Fajr .........

........ the stones and trees of Lud shall cry out to the Black Flags and tell them of the Munafiqs, Yahuds and Kuffar that are hiding behind them, to come and kill them. That day shall be the day of reckoning, the day of justice, the day when no power shall hold and unfair advantage. The battle shall be fought and won by way of faith ........

^ This is going way off-topic but @Dizazta is not a mullah by any definition...he is a very nationalistic and patriotic person on the contrary. Your outburst towards him has no basis whatsoever.

As far as Karachi and greater Sindh is concerned, we should really blame the Sindh government(PPP & MQM) and the Sindhi feudals, not the man in Punjab.

Sure one can say that Punjab has exploited Sindh but it's all with the blessing of our own rotten eggs. To date the Sindhi(including the urdu-speaking) have done f@ck all for the betterment of Sindhi society and Sindh overall....what do we have to show for ourselves I ask you....MQM and PPP....Altaf and Zardari....ghunday and charsi?

Sindh has had ample chances to even minutely make differences for itself but it brutally failed to do so and in all honesty it's not the fault of Punjab. Hypothetically if Sindh were to get 90% share of the budget tomorrow....the feudals, PPP and MQM folks will get 90% richer...Sindh waisa ka waisa hee rahay hai.....a weakling.

Now back to the topic: Defence budget has been increased by 11% in our new budget.

Meanwhile, tell ganjoo and company to stop interfering with the Pak army and its institutes. Pakistanis aren't going to tolerate it. Tell ganjoo to stop the corruption and alienating other provinces of Pakistan.

No need for the religious rant. We are all muslims here. It isn't your right to question us and lecture us on our religiousness.

And you've missed the whole point of the debate.

But tell me this since you're given yourself the title of being a better muslim than everyone here:

1. The number ONE message in Islam after monotheism is the implementation of JUSTICE AND GIVING PEOPLE THEIR DUE RIGHTS.

Is that being done in Karachi?

A city that give 60+% to Pakistan only get back less thank 3%!!????? IS THAT JUSTICE ACCORDING TO ISLAM???

2. You talk about not adhering to an ETHNICITY? Who's doing ETHNIC DISCRIMINATION HERE?? KARACHIITES have LOYALLY given to ALL OF Pakistan since Independence!

BUT IS THE REST OF Pakistan GIVING TO KARACHI?? and KARACHIITES?? Why? Because they are not SONS OF SOIL?? Who's being UNISLAMICLY RACIST HERE??

People in Pakistan especially those MULLAHS are ready to give long non-sensical rants on Islam without getting to the ACTUAL CORE OF THE PROBLEM.

There is BLATANT INJUSTICE BEING DONE AGAINST KARACHI! Thats why you have parties like the MQM and ANP emerging.

The REST of Pakistan has a sense of DENIAL against the BLATANT UNISLAMIC Wrong doing they are doing in KARACHI. They did the same with Bangladesh as well.

If this goes on...the only option will be a break up like Yugoslavia. Allah doesn't tolerate injustice like this for too long.

Brother Dizasta has a point. I agree with every word he has said. He's a hardcore patriot. We cannot question his resolve and patriotism.

Ideally, all Pakistanis need to cooperate with one another. There should be no difference between a Punjabi, Pakhtun, Sindhi and Balochi. All Pakistanis are equal. That includes the minority. Unfortunately, the politics played by ganjoo tells us a different story though. Ganjoo is playing a divide and conquer politics. It's going to backfire and it already has.

Metanoia: This is actually very much related to the topic. We're talking about how Ganjoo is screwing up the the defence allocations and how he got power in the first place.

Strange...from Dizasta's own post, shouldn't he be the opposite of Patriotic, isn't Nationalism against Islam?? Otherwise he's being hypocritical.

His RAVE all emboldened in RED and full of typical Mullah like rants as well as calling us "dogs" is ok?? Show some justice. He has no right to judge my Religion.

AND I am not a MUNAFIQ. How can you PREACH about UNITY when you have INJUSTICE??

Especially INJUSTICE like the ones being faced by KARACHIITES. Where one city bears the burden of the entire free loading country and gets nothing in return.

I'm talking about the ULTIMATE REQUIREMENT IN ISLAM....which is GIVING PEOPLE JUSTICE AND THEIR DUE RIGHTS.

I dont understand why Punjabis display as STATE OF DENIAL when it comes to issues of RIGHTS for the other ethnicities especially Karachiites (urdu speaking). PUNJABIS do the same when the topic of EAST Pakistan seceding comes up as well.

I dont care for the MQM. But there's a reason Karachiites vote for them. If the REST of Pakistan gave KARACHI its proper DUE (Haq) and AUTHORITY, their wouldn't be any MQM.

A city provides the MAJORITY of the GDP as well as government revenue has been NEGLECTED and KARACHIITES have been discriminated against. ACCEPT it.

PUNJABIS, PATHANS and SINDHIS all share the blame for FORCING Karachiites to support the MQM which is the only party asking for Karachi's rights.

There is agricultural tax and now they introduced 15% income tax also on agricultural income. The 15% tax is in Punjab for people over a certain land holding.

All the pesticides and weedicides and fertilizers have been taxed. Diesel used is taxes. Tractors and other implements are also taxed.

So I do not understand why people repeat this thing that the agriculture sector is untaxed.

W/salaam

In case I forgot here is it is... Asalaamualikum

"There is none worthy of worship but He, glorified be He: [Far is He] above that which they associate [with Him]" (Qur'an 9:31)

Not equal are the owners of the fire and the owners of the Garden. The owners of the Garden, they are the victorious. [Quran 59:20]

Allah knows best [who are] your enemies. Allah is sufficient as a Friend, and Allah is sufficient as a Helper. [4:45]

Fudayl ibn Iyaad said: "Verily, if an action was done sincerely for the sake of Allah but was not correct, it will not be accepted by Allah. And if the action was correct but not done sincerely it will not be accepted until the act is sincere and correct. For it to be sincere, it has to be done for the sake of Allah, and in order for it to be correct, it has to agree to the sunnah."

the Messenger of Allah pbuh says; “whoever does not care about the affairs of the Muslims is not one of them.”

Brother Dizasta has a point. I agree with every word he has said. He's a hardcore patriot. We cannot question his resolve and patriotism.

Ideally, all Pakistanis need to cooperate with one another. There should be no difference between a Punjabi, Pakhtun, Sindhi and Balochi. All Pakistanis are equal. That includes the minority. Unfortunately, the politics played by ganjoo tells us a different story though. Ganjoo is playing a divide and conquer politics. It's going to backfire and it already has.

Brother BABUR:

Its not Dizazta's right to judge someones patriotism and his holier than thou rant on Islam is not for him to give.

But answer me this Babur: If all Pakistanis are the same..... Why are Karachiites discriminated and denied their rights? Why the double standards against Karachi? Answer me this and then talk to me about UNITY and EQUALITY.

Is it fair that a city that gives SO MUCH is given SO LITTLE BACK? Karachiites were first held hostage by the Central Government and now the Sindhi (Rural Vadera) government. Why are they not given local authority? Every other city in the world the size of Karachi has its own police and municipality structure. Why not Karachi?

Lets not talk be people who just TALK about ISLAM but actually implement the JUSTICE and EQUALITY that Islam stresses so much..

And I agree with you...GANJOO isn't going to last long if he keeps conducting himself in this discriminatory manner.. But he has backers and votes of people who have the same backward, racist , Munafiq, views as he does. Thats why he wins from PUnjab. He may fall...but until Pakistan doesn't change its MENTALITY and MINDSET, we'll be in the same situation even with another person.